TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2002-03 > 1015019068


From: "Chuck Wolfram" <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] newbie questions
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 16:44:28 -0500
References: <00a801c1c145$5de6de40$6de6950c@94bde>


Colleen Conlan asked some newbie questions recently:


> Greetings-
> I'm new, still confused, taking lots of deep breaths, and taking it on
faith that I will eventually be glad I chose this program! I'm still
entering data into a PRACTICE set, as I read on Lee's tips page. Can anyone
help me with these specific questions? (I have silver edition, version 4.0)
>

Hi Colleen,
Congratulations on an excellent choice. I'm certain you will be glad.
Welcome to TMG and the List. Before you do anything else, is it v.4 or
v.4.0c or 4.0d that you have? Version 4.0c was the last one shipped on CD.
4.0d is the current version, (unless BobV releases v.5 in the next few
hours<g>), and if you don't have 4.0d, please upgrade. It's free,
downloadable from the WG website, and just make certain it's the right
download. Make certain it says SILVER.

> -Many of my sources are copies of birth, marriage and death certificates.
Some I got from my mother, and some I got from Vital
> Records, either in person or by mail. Is each certificate a source? Does
each have its own entry and source number in the master source list? I know
its "up to me" how I want to enter sources, but how do you folks do it? The
examples in the SAMPLE dataset don't include any birth records or
certificates.
>
> I had entered my birth certificate as source #1, abbreviated as "Birth
records, Connecticut" but I have many birth records from CT. Should I call
it "birth certificate-Colleen" instead? Do I then end up with a master
source list filled with "birth certificate-Colleen O'Neill", "birth
certificate-Bernard O'Neill" etc? Is this >appropriate or desirable?

I've added a few generic sources on vital records, but I think the best
system, which I use, is to give each vital record it's own source. So each
one ot the certificates, or entries in a birth or death county registry
would get it's own, indiviual source. I started using a generic source for
Chester County (PA) Death Registry at one time, but later switched and gave
all of them their indiviual sources. The Short Cite didn't look right, IMO.
I'm using Scottish Old Parochial Registries now and getting a hugh number of
birth, marriage, etc. records from that, using each Register as a source,
but that is somewhat different from what you are using.
You can put anything you want in the Abbrieviation field: it never
prints. Make certain you know to whom it refers. As to the Title field, if
you are using Mills based cite, that won't print either (not for vital
records), but will simply show up on the Expanded Tag List. If you are
using Lackey cites, then it will.
Which brings this question. Are you using, or planning to use, Mills or
Lackey? If there are about 100 source fields to choose from, then you are
using source templates based on EVIDENCE! by Elizabeth Shown Mills. If
there are only 14 source templates to choose from, you are using templates
based on CITE YOUR SOURCES by Richard S. Lackey. My guess is that you are
using Mills. There are two genealogical citation manuals, we can use either
one (or both; choose Custom-Mills and then create the Lackey sources in your
Source Templates). I would advise that you buy a copy of EVIDENCE!,
especially if you are using the Mills based cites.
Mills, Elizabeth Shown, "EVIDENCE! Citation & Analysis for the Family
Historian" (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997) 124 pgs.
softcover.
If you are using Lackey based cites, his book is less expensive, and you
can get either (or both) from any genealogy bookstore, on or off line, as
well as www.barnesandnoble.com or www.amazon.com
You can make any source Inactive. There's a button on each source with
Active? Yes No. If it's inactive you will see it when you ask for Expaned
Tags.
>
> -As I was entering new sources, I was clicking back and forth between the
SAMPLE set and my PRACTICE SET. A few times I cancelled entry of the source,
then went back to it. Now my automatic numbering is off. I have to renumber
each source after I have entered it. Is there a way to remedy this?
>

Simply click "Renumber All Sources." First click "Renumber", you will be
asked if you want that source alone to be renumbered or all of them. Choose
All.

> -In Person View, in the narrow column between Type and Date, what does the
asterisk (*) signify? Not all items in this view have one.
>
It's a *Primary* tag. Among other things, TMG calculates dates using
Primary.

> -My program came with the Getting Started Manual. Is there a way to
purchase the User's Guide and Reference Manual?
>
You have it on disk. Start>Programs>Thje Master Genealogist>Reference
Manual. We all do, but only those with Silver need look at that file. One
of the benefits of Gold<g>.

If you have any more questions, please ask. Nice hearing from you.

Chuck Wolfram

This thread: